Non-volatile memory device having a vertical structure and method of fabricating the same

ABSTRACT

A non-volatile memory device having a vertical structure includes a semiconductor layer, a sidewall insulation layer extending in a vertical direction on the semiconductor layer, and having one or more protrusion regions, first control gate electrodes arranged in the vertical direction on the semiconductor layer, and respectively contacting one of portions of the sidewall insulation layer where the one or more protrusion regions are not formed and second control gate electrodes arranged in the vertical direction on the semiconductor layer, and respectively contacting one of the one or more protrusion regions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/458,293, filed Apr. 27, 2012, which claims priority to Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2011-0041995, filed on May 3, 2011, the disclosure ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept relate to a non-volatilememory device, and more particularly, to a non-volatile memory devicehaving a vertical structure and a method of fabricating the same.

Although electronic devices have become more and more reduced in size,they are nevertheless still required to process a large amount of data.Thus, the integration density of semiconductor memory devices for use insuch electronic devices may in turn need to be increased. Consequently,non-volatile memory devices having a vertical structure are beingconsidered instead of those devices having a conventional flat structurefor increasing the integration density of the semiconductor memorydevices.

SUMMARY

According to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept, anon-volatile memory device having a vertical structure is provided. Thenon-volatile memory device includes a semiconductor layer, a sidewallinsulation layer extending in a vertical direction on the semiconductorlayer, and having one or more protrusion regions, first control gateelectrodes arranged in the vertical direction on the semiconductorlayer, and respectively contacting one of portions of the sidewallinsulation layer where the one or more protrusion regions are not formedand second control gate electrodes arranged in the vertical direction onthe semiconductor layer, and respectively contacting one of the one ormore protrusion regions.

In an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept, widths of thesecond control gate electrodes may be narrower than widths of the firstcontrol gate electrodes.

In an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept, widths of thesecond control gate electrodes may be the same as each other.

In an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept, widths of thesecond control gate electrodes may be different from each other.

In an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept, a width of at leastone second control gate electrode located relatively close to thesemiconductor layer may be narrower than a width of at least one secondcontrol gate electrode located relatively far from the semiconductorlayer.

In an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept, a width of at leastone second control gate electrode located relatively close to thesemiconductor layer may be wider than a width of at least one secondcontrol gate electrode located relatively far from the semiconductorlayer.

In an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept, the second controlgate electrodes may be located relatively close to the semiconductorlayer, compared to the first control gate electrodes.

In an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept, the second controlgate electrodes may be located relatively far from the semiconductorlayer, compared to the first control gate electrodes.

In an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept, widths of theprotrusion regions may be the same as or different from each other.

In an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept, the second controlgate electrodes may constitute one of ground selection transistors orstring selection transistors.

In an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept, the first controlgate electrodes adjacent to the second control gate electrodes mayconstitute one of ground selection transistors or string selectiontransistors.

In an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept, the first controlgate electrodes may constitute memory cells.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, anon-volatile memory device having a vertical structure is provided. Thenon-volatile memory device includes a semiconductor layer, a channelregion extending in a vertical direction on the semiconductor layer,control gate electrodes arranged along a sidewall of the channel regionin the vertical direction on the semiconductor layer and a sidewallinsulation layer located opposite to the channel region with respect tothe control gate electrodes, and having one or more protrusion regionsprotruded toward some of the control gate electrodes.

In an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept, the non-volatilememory device may further include a storage structure interposed betweenthe channel region and the control gate electrodes, and the storagestructure may continuously extend along the control gate electrodes.

In an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept, the non-volatilememory device may further include a storage structure interposed betweenthe channel region and the control gate electrodes, and the storagestructure may continuously extend along the channel region.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept, a methodof fabricating a non-volatile memory device is provided. The methodincludes alternatively stacking a plurality of interlayer insulationlayers and interlayer sacrificial layers on a semiconductor layer,forming a plurality of first opening portions to expose thesemiconductor layer by removing portions of the interlayer insulationlayers and the interlayer sacrificial layers, forming a plurality ofchannel regions covering sidewalls and a lower side of the first openingportions, and the channel regions extend in a vertical direction on thesemiconductor layer, forming a filling insulating layer on the channelregions to fill each of the first opening portions, forming a pluralityof second opening portions exposing the semiconductor layer by removingportions of the interlayer insulation layers and the interlayersacrificial layers between the channel regions, forming a plurality ofthird opening portions connected to the second opening portions byremoving the interlayer sacrificial layers interposed between theinterlayer insulation layers, and sidewalls of the channel regions areexposed by the second and third opening portions, and forming aplurality of storage structures on sidewalls of the interlayerinsulation layers and on the sidewalls of the channel region, which areexposed by the second opening portions and the third opening portions.The storage structures include a tunnel insulating layer, a chargestorage layer and a blocking insulating layer sequentially stacked onthe sidewalls of the interlayer insulating layers and on the sidewallsof the channel regions.

The method further includes forming a plurality of interlayer conductivelayers on the storage structures so as to fill the second openingportions and the third opening portions, forming a plurality of fourthopening portions by removing portions of the interlayer conductivelayers to expose sidewalls of the storage structures, and such that theinterlayer conductive layers remain in the third opening portions andremaining portions of interlayer conductive layers cover a top side ofthe semiconductor layer and the sidewalls of the interlayer insulationlayers located adjacent to the semiconductor layer, forming a pluralityof first sacrificial spacers in an upper region of the fourth openingportions to cover sidewalls of portions of the interlayer conductivelayers and sidewalls of the portions of the interlayer insulation layerswhich are not adjacent to the semiconductor layer, and forming aplurality of second sacrificial spacers in a lower region of the fourthopening portions to cover the remaining portions of the interlayerconductive layers formed on the semiconductor layer.

In addition, the method further includes removing the remaining portionsof the conductive layers formed on the semiconductor layer and thesecond sacrificial spacers formed thereon to expose portions of thesemiconductor layer, removing a portion of at least one of theinterlayer conductive layers remaining in the third opening portions toform a first interlayer conductive layer having a recessed portion andanother of the interlayer conductive layers in which a recessed portionhas not been formed constitutes a second interlayer conductive layer,removing the first sacrificial spacers to expose sidewalls of theinterlayer conductive layers remaining in the third opening portions,thereby increasing a width of the fourth opening portions, and forming aplurality of sidewall insulation layers in the fourth opening portionsto cover the sidewalls of the interlayer insulation layers and thesidewalls of the interlayer conductive layers. The sidewall insulationlayers have one or more protrusion regions protruded toward the firstinterlayer conductive layer having the recessed portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept will be more clearlyunderstood from the following detailed description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an equivalent circuit diagram of a memory cell string of anon-volatile memory device according to an exemplary embodiment of theinventive concept;

FIG. 2 is an equivalent circuit diagram of a non-volatile memory deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic cross-sectional views of a non-volatilememory device according to an exemplary embodiment of the inventiveconcept;

FIGS. 5 through 17 are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating amethod of fabricating a non-volatile memory device according anexemplary embodiment of the inventive concept;

FIGS. 18 through 24 are cross-sectional views illustrating non-volatilememory devices according to an exemplary embodiment of the inventiveconcept;

FIG. 25 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a non-volatile memorydevice having a vertical structure according to an exemplary embodimentof the inventive concept;

FIG. 26 is a schematic view illustrating a memory card according to anexemplary embodiment of the inventive concept; and

FIG. 27 is a schematic block diagram of a system including anon-volatile memory device according to an exemplary embodiment of theinventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments, examplesof which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. However,exemplary embodiments are not limited to embodiments illustratedhereinafter. In the drawings, thicknesses of layers and regions areexaggerated for clarity.

It will be understood that when an element, such as a layer, a region,or a substrate, is referred to as being “on,” “connected to,” or“coupled to” another element, it may be directly on, connected to, orcoupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present.Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. As usedherein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one ormore of the associated listed items.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of exemplaryembodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise.

FIG. 1 is an equivalent circuit diagram of a memory cell string of anon-volatile memory device according to an exemplary embodiment of theinventive concept.

Referring to FIG. 1, a single memory cell string MCS included in anon-volatile memory device having a vertical structure including avertical channel structure is illustrated.

The memory cell string MCS may extend, for example, in a verticaldirection, such that the memory cell string MCS may have a verticalstructure. The memory cell string MCS may include, for example, firstand second string selection transistors SSTa and SSTb, a plurality ofmemory cells MC1 through MCn, and first and second ground selectiontransistors GSTa and GSTb. A bit line BL may be connected to one end ofthe memory cell string MCS. For example, the bit line BL may beconnected to one end of the first string selection transistor SSTa. Acommon source line CSL may be connected to the other end of the memorycell string MCS, opposing to the bit line BL. For example, the commonsource line CSL may be connected to one end of the first groundselection transistor GSTa.

The plurality of memory cells MC1 through MCn may store data and bearranged, for example, in series in the vertical direction. A pluralityof word lines WL1 through WLn may be respectively connected to, forexample, each of the plurality of memory cells MC1 through MCn torespectively control the memory cells MC1 through MCn. The total numberof the memory cells MC1 through MCn may be appropriately determinedaccording to a capacity of the non-volatile memory device.

The first and second string selection transistors SSTa and SSTb may bearranged near to one end of the memory cells MC1 through MCn. Forexample, the first and second string selection transistors SSTa and SSTbmay be located between the bit line BL and the memory cells MC1 throughMCn and may be connected in series to the memory cells MC1 through MCn.The first string selection transistor SSTa may be arranged, for example,near to the bit line BL, and the second string selection transistor SSTbmay be, for example, arranged further from the bit line BL compared tothe first string selection transistor SSTa. The first and second stringselection transistors SSTa and SSTb may control a signal transmissionbetween the bit line BL and the memory cells MC1 through MCn. A stringselection line SSL may be, for example, commonly connected to the firstand second string selection transistors SSTa and SSTb. Thus, the firstand second string selection transistors SSTa and SSTb may operatetogether as if they were unified as one transistor.

The first and second ground selection transistors GSTa and GSTb may be,for example, located to be opposite to the first and second stringselection transistors SSTa and SSTb and closely to the other end of thememory cells MC1 through MCn. For example, the first and second groundselection transistors GSTa and GSTb may be located between the commonsource line CSL and the memory cells MC1 through MCn and may beconnected in series to the memory cells MC1 through MCn. The firstground selection transistor GSTa may be, for example, arranged near tothe common source line CSL, and the second ground selection transistorGSTb may be, for example, arranged further from the common source lineCSL compared to the ground string selection transistor GSTa. The firstand second ground selection transistors GSTa and GSTb may control asignal transmission between the common source line CSL and the memorycells MC1 through MCn. A ground selection line GSL may be, for example,commonly connected to the first and second ground selection transistorsGSTa and GSTb. Thus, the first and second ground selection transistorsGSTa and GSTb may operate together as if they were unified as onetransistor.

To perform a programming operation of the non-volatile memory device, 0volts may be applied to the bit line BL, an ‘ON’ voltage (a turn-onvoltage) may be applied to the string selection line SSL, and an ‘OFF’voltage (a turn-off voltage) may be applied to the ground selection lineGSL. The ‘ON’ voltage may be, for example, equal to or greater than athreshold voltage of the first and second string selection transistorsSSTa and SSTb so as to turn on the first and second string selectiontransistors SSTa and SSTb, and the ‘OFF’ voltage may be, for example,less than a threshold voltage of the first and second ground selectiontransistors GSTa and GSTb so as to turn off the first and second groundselection transistors GSTa and GSTb. A program voltage may be applied toa memory cell selected from among the memory cells MC1 through MCn, anda pass voltage may be applied to the other memory cells. When theprogram voltage is applied to the selected memory cell, electric chargesmay be injected into the selected memory cell due to, for exampleFowler-Nordheim (FN) tunneling. The pass voltage may be, for example,greater than a threshold voltage of the memory cells MC1 through MCn.

To perform a read operation of the non-volatile memory device, a readvoltage may be applied to the bit line BL, and the ‘ON’ voltage may beapplied to the string selection line SSL and the ground selection lineGSL. A reference voltage may be applied to a memory cell selected fromamong the memory cells MC1 through MCn, and the pass voltage may beapplied to the other memory cells.

To perform an erase operation of the non-volatile memory device, anerase voltage may be applied to bodies of the memory cells MC1 throughMCn, and 0 volts may be applied to the word lines WL1 through WLn. Thus,data may be simultaneously erased from the memory cells MC1 through MCn.

FIG. 2 is an equivalent circuit diagram of a non-volatile memory deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept. Thenon-volatile memory device of FIG. 2 may correspond to an array usingthe memory cell string of FIG. 1. Thus, a description of operations orcharacteristics of elements that are the same as those of FIG. 1 willnot be provided here.

For example, referring to FIG. 2, a plurality of memory cell stringsMCS11, MCS12, MCS21, and MCS22 each having a vertical structure may bearranged in a matrix. A first bit line BL1 may be commonly connected to,for example, one end of the memory cell strings MCS 11 and MCS21 in afirst row, and a second bit line BL2 may be commonly connected to, forexample, one end of the memory cell strings MCS12 and MCS22 in a secondrow. A common source line CSL may be disposed opposite to the first andsecond bit lines BL1 and BL2. For example, the common source line CSLmay be commonly connected to the other ends of the memory cell stringsMCS11, MCS12, MCS21, and MCS22. The total number of the memory cellstrings MCS11, MCS12, MCS21, and MCS22 and the total number of the bitlines BL1 and BL2 are just examples thereof, and exemplary embodimentsof the inventive concept are not limited thereto.

Word lines WL1 through WLn may be commonly connected to, for example,memory cells MC1 through MCn of the memory cell strings MCS11, MCS12,MCS21, and MCS22, arranged at the same levels as the word line WL1through WLn, respectively. A first string selection line SSL1 may becommonly coupled to, for example, string selection transistors SST11 andSST12 of the memory cell strings MCS11 and MCS12 in a first column. Asecond string selection line SSL2 may be commonly coupled to, forexample, string selection transistors SST21 and SST22 of the memory cellstrings MCS21 and MCS22 in a second column. The string selectiontransistors SST11, SST12, SST21, and SST22 may respectively include, forexample, the first and second string selection transistors SSTa and SSTbillustrated in FIG. 1. A first ground selection line GSL1 may becommonly connected to, for example, ground selection transistors GST11and GST12 of the memory cell strings MCS11 and MCS12 in the firstcolumn. A second ground selection line GSL2 may be commonly connectedto, for example, ground selection transistors GST21 and GST22 of thememory cell strings MCS21 and MCS22 in the second column. The groundselection transistors GST11, GST12, GST21, and GST22 may include, forexample, the first and second ground selection transistors GSTa and GSTbillustrated in FIG. 1.

To perform a program operation of the non-volatile memory device, 0volts may be applied to a bit line selected from the bit lines BL1 andBL2, and an ‘ON’ voltage may be applied to the other bit line forchannel boosting. Also, the ‘ON’ voltage may be applied to a stringselection line selected from the string selection lines SSL1 and SSL2and an ‘OFF’ voltage may be applied to the other string selection line.Thus, it is possible to selectively operate a memory cell string that iscommonly connected to the selected bit line and the selected stringselection line, from among the memory cell strings MCS11, MCS12, MCS21,and MCS22.

To perform a read operation of the non-volatile memory device, a readvoltage may be applied to a bit line selected from the bit lines BL1 andBL2 and the other bit line may be floated. Also, the ‘ON’ voltage may beapplied to a string selection line selected from the string selectionlines SSL1 and SSL2 and the ‘OFF’ voltage may be applied to the otherstring selection line. Thus, it is possible to selectively operate amemory cell string that is commonly connected to the selected bit lineand the selected string selection line, from among the memory cellstrings MCS11, MCS12, MCS21, and MCS22.

To perform an erase operation of the non-volatile memory device, anerase voltage may be applied to bodies of the memory cells MC1 throughMCn and 0 volts may be applied to the word lines WL1 through WLn.Accordingly, data may be simultaneously erased from the memory cells MC1through MCn of the memory cell strings MCS11, MCS12, MCS21, and MCS22.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic cross-sectional views of a non-volatilememory device 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the inventiveconcept. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of memory cells ofthe non-volatile memory device 1. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectionalview illustrating connections between the memory cells of thenon-volatile memory device 1 and word lines.

Referring to FIG. 3, the non-volatile memory device 1 includes, forexample, a semiconductor layer 100, a channel region 120, first controlgate electrodes 152, second control gate electrodes 154, a common sourceline 170, and a sidewall insulation layer 160.

First and second ground selection transistors GSTa and GSTb, a pluralityof memory cells MC1 through MCn, and first and second string selectiontransistors SSTa and SSTb may be located sequentially on thesemiconductor layer 100. For example, the first and second groundselection transistors GSTa and GSTb may be located relatively near thesemiconductor layer 100, and the first and second string selectiontransistors SSTa and SSTb may be located relatively far from thesemiconductor layer 100. For example, interlayer insulation layers 110may be located between the first and second ground selection transistorsGSTa and GSTb, the plurality of memory cells MC1 through MCn, and thefirst and second string selection transistors SSTa and SSTb.

Each of the memory cells MC1 through MCn may include, for example, astorage structure 130. The storage structure 130 may include, forexample, a tunneling insulation layer 132, a charge storage layer 134,and a blocking insulation layer 136. The memory cells MC1 through MCnmay include, for example, the first control gate electrodes 152electrically connected to the storage structure 130.

In addition, each of the first and second string selection transistorsSSTa and SSTb and each of the first and second ground selectiontransistors GSTa and GSTb may include, for example, the storagestructure 130, and this storage structure 130 may function as a gateinsulation layer. The first and second ground selection transistors GSTaand GSTb may include, for example, the second control gate electrodes154 electrically connected to the storage structure 130. The first andsecond string selection transistors SSTa and SSTb may include, forexample, third control gate electrodes 156 electrically connected to thestorage structure 130. A description of the first through third controlgate electrodes 152, 154, and 156 will be provided in detail below.

The channel region 120 may extend, for example, in a vertical directionon a portion of the semiconductor layer 100. The first through thirdcontrol gate electrodes 152, 154, and 156 may be arranged, for example,along a sidewall of the channel region 120. In addition, the storagestructure 130 may, for example, continuously extend along the firstthrough third control gate electrodes 152, 154, and 156, and thus thestorage structure 130 may have a winding shape.

For example, a filling insulation layer 122 may be filled into thechannel region 120. The channel region 120 may be physically and/orelectrically connected to the storage structure 130. PN junction typesource/drain regions for transistors may be formed in the channel region120. In addition, the channel region 120 may be continuously doped ormay not be doped with impurities of the same conductive type. In thiscase, the memory cells MC1 through MCn may be electrically connected toeach other using, for example, a field effect source/drain region duringa program/read operation. The channel region 120 between the memorycells MC1 through MCn may be turned on using, for example, a fringingfield.

The common source line 170 may extend, for example, in the verticaldirection on a portion of the semiconductor layer 100. An impurityregion 102 may be located in the semiconductor layer 100, and theimpurity region 102 and the common source line 170 may be physicallyand/or electrically connected to each other. The first and second groundselection transistors GSTa and GSTb, the plurality of memory cells MC1through MCn, and the first and second string selection transistors SSTaand SSTb may be located between the channel region 120 and the commonsource line 170.

The sidewall insulation layer 160 may be located on the common sourceline 170. The sidewall insulation layer 160 may extend, for example, inthe vertical direction on the semiconductor layer 100. In addition, thesidewall insulation layer 160 may be, for example, opposite to thechannel region 120 with respect to the transistors. That is, thetransistors are disposed between the sidewall insulation layer 160 andthe channel region 120. The common source line 170 may be insulated fromthe first and second ground selection transistors GSTa and GSTb, theplurality of memory cells MC1 through MCn, and the first and secondstring selection transistors SSTa and SSTb by the sidewall insulationlayer 160.

The sidewall insulation layer 160 may have, for example, one or moreprotrusion regions 162 protruded toward the second control gateelectrodes 154 in a region where the second control gate electrodes 154are located. The first control gate electrodes 152 may be arranged, forexample, in the vertical direction on the semiconductor layer 100 and incontact with portions of the sidewall insulation layer 160 where theprotrusion regions 162 are not formed. That is, the first control gateelectrodes 152 may be located so as, for example, not to contact withthe protrusion regions 162. On the other hand, the second control gateelectrodes 154 may be arranged, for example, in the vertical directionon the semiconductor layer 100 and in contact with the protrusionregions 162. The second control gate electrodes 154 may be, for example,located near to the semiconductor layer 100 compared to the firstcontrol gate electrodes 152.

The first control gate electrodes 152 may have the same width as ordifferent widths from each other between the sidewall insulation layer160 and the channel region 120. In addition, the second control gateelectrodes 154 may have the same width as or different widths from eachother between the sidewall insulation layer 160 and the channel region120. For example, the first control gate electrodes 152 may have a firstwidth W1 between the sidewall insulation layer 160 and the channelregion 120, and the second control gate electrodes 154 may have a secondwidth W2 between the sidewall insulation layer 160 and the channelregion 120. The second width W2 may be, for example, narrower than thefirst width W1.

For example, the sidewall insulation layer 160 may have a firstthickness T1 between the first control gate electrodes 152 and thecommon source line 170. The sidewall insulation layer 160 may have asecond thickness T2 between the second control gate electrodes 154 andthe common source line 170. The second thickness T2 may be, for example,thicker than the first thickness T1. In the current embodiment, thethird control gate electrodes 156 may have, for example, a third widthW3 between the sidewall insulation layer 160 and the channel region 120,and the third width W3 may be the same as the first width W1. Inaddition, the sidewall insulation layer 160 may have a third thicknessT3 between the third control gate electrodes 156 and the common sourceline 170. In the current embodiment, the first thickness T1 and thethird thickness T3 may be, for example, the same. Each of the firstthicknesses T1 corresponding to the first control gate electrodes 152may be same as or different from each other. In addition, each of thesecond thicknesses T2 corresponding to second control gate electrodes154 may be same as or different from each other. Moreover, each of thethird thickness T3 corresponding to the third control gate electrodes156 may be the same as or different from each other.

As a result, the memory cells MC1 through MCn include the first controlgate electrodes 152 each having the first width W1, and the first andsecond ground selection transistors GSTa and GSTb include the secondcontrol gate electrodes 154 each having the second width W2, which isnarrower than the first width W1. The first and second string selectiontransistors SSTa and SSTb include the third control gate electrodes 156each having the third width W3, which is the same width as the firstwidth W1.

Referring to FIG. 4, the first control gate electrodes 152 of the memorycells MC1 through MCn may be connected to, for example, word lines WL1through WLn through first contact plugs 172. The second control gateelectrodes 154 of the first and second ground selection transistors GSTaand GSTb may be commonly connected to, for example, a ground selectionline GSL through second contact plugs 174. The third control gateelectrodes 156 of the first and second string selection transistors SSTaand SSTb may be commonly connected to, for example, a string selectionline SSL through third contact plugs 176. The single ground selectionline GSL and the single string selection line SSL are illustrated, butthis is just an example, and exemplary embodiments of the inventiveconcept are not limited thereto.

FIGS. 5 through 17 are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating amethod of fabricating a non-volatile memory device according anexemplary embodiment of the inventive concept.

Referring to FIG. 5, a semiconductor layer 100 is prepared. Thesemiconductor layer 100 may be a substrate and may include asemiconductor material, such as for example, a IV group semiconductor, aIII-V group compound semiconductor, or a II-VI group oxidesemiconductor. For example, the IV group semiconductor may includesilicon (Si), germanium (Ge), or silicon-germanium (Si—Ge). Thesemiconductor layer 100 may include, for example, a bulk wafer, anepitaxial layer, a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) layer, asemiconductor-on-insulator (SEOI) layer, and/or the like.

For example, interlayer insulation layers 110 and interlayer sacrificiallayers 112 may be alternately formed on the semiconductor layer 100. Theinterlayer sacrificial layers 112 may have, for example, an etchselectivity different from that of the interlayer insulation layers 110.The etch selectivity of the interlayer sacrificial layers 112 may bequantitatively represented by a ratio of an etching rate of theinterlayer sacrificial layers 112 to an etching rate of the interlayerinsulation layers 110. The interlayer insulation layers 110 and theinterlayer sacrificial layers 112 may include, for example, materialsdifferent from each other. For example, the interlayer insulation layers110 may include silicon oxide or silicon nitride, and the interlayersacrificial layers 112 may include silicon, silicon oxide, siliconcarbide, or silicon nitride. Although, in FIG. 5, the interlayerinsulation layers 110 is located closer to the semiconductor layer 100compared to the interlayer sacrificial layers 112, exemplary embodimentsof the inventive concept are not limited thereto. For example,alternatively, the interlayer sacrificial layers 112 may be locatedcloser to the semiconductor layer 100 compared to the interlayerinsulation layers 110. In addition, the thicknesses of the interlayerinsulation layers 110 and the interlayer sacrificial layers 112 may bevariously changed, and the numbers of layers of the interlayerinsulation layers 110 and the interlayer sacrificial layers 112 also maybe variously changed.

For example, referring to FIG. 6, first opening portions 121 may beformed to expose the semiconductor layer 100 by removing some portionsof the interlayer insulation layers 110 and the interlayer sacrificiallayers 112. The first opening portions 121 may be formed by using, forexample, a photolithography process and an etching process. Sidewalls ofthe first opening portions 121 may be perpendicular or may not beperpendicular to a top side of the semiconductor layer 100. For example,widths of the first opening portions 121 may be smaller when closer tothe semiconductor layer 100. In addition, the first opening portions 121may also be formed to have, for example, a recess portion 116 formed byrecessing the semiconductor layer 100 to a predetermined depth.

For example, referring to FIG. 7, channel regions 120 may be formed soas to uniformly cover the sidewalls and a lower side of the firstopening portions 121. The channel regions 120 may have, for example, apolycrystalline structure or a monocrystalline structure. The channelregions 120 may be, for example, epitaxial layers. The channel regions120 may be formed by using, for example, chemical vapor deposition(CVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD), sputtering, electroplating ornon-electroplating. The channel regions 120 may be electricallyconnected to the semiconductor layer 100 by, for example, directlycontacting with the semiconductor layer 100 at bottom sides of the firstopening portions 121. Furthermore, the first opening portions 121 may befilled by, for example, forming filling insulation layers 122. Forexample, selectively, before forming the filling insulation layers 122,a hydrogen annealing process may be further performed in a gasatmosphere including hydrogen or heavy hydrogen to thermally process thechannel regions 120. Due to the hydrogen annealing process, defects ofthe channel regions 120 may be removed. In addition, without forming thefilling insulation layers 122, the channel regions 120 may completelyfill the first opening portions 121. Although not illustrated, a bitline contact plug (not shown) may be further formed to electricallycontact with a bit line in top portions of the channel regions 120.

For example, referring to FIG. 8, second opening portions 124 exposingthe semiconductor layer 100 may be formed by removing some portions ofthe interlayer insulation layers 110 and the interlayer sacrificiallayers 112 between the channel regions 120. The second opening portions124 may be formed by using, for example, a photolithography process andan etching process. Sidewalls of the second opening portions 124 may beperpendicular or may not be perpendicular to the top side of thesemiconductor layer 100.

Referring to FIG. 9, the interlayer sacrificial layers 112 interposedbetween the interlayer insulation layers 110 may be removed. Forexample, the interlayer sacrificial layers 112 may be removed byinfiltrating an etchant into spaces between the interlayer insulationlayers 110 through the second opening portions 124. The removingoperation, for example, may include wet etching or chemical dry etching.Accordingly, third opening portions 126 connected to the second openingportions 124 may be formed as the interlayer sacrificial layers 112interposed between the interlayer insulation layers 110 are removed. Dueto the third opening portions 126, sidewalls of the channel regions 120may be exposed.

For example, referring to FIG. 10, storage structures 130 may be formedon sidewalls of the interlayer insulation layers 110 and on thesidewalls of the channel regions 120, which are exposed by the secondopening portions 124 and the third opening portions 126. The storagestructures 130 may be formed by, for example, using a method providinghigh step coverage. For example, the storage structures 130 may beformed by using CVD, ALD, sputtering, electroplating ornon-electroplating. Each of the storage structures 130 may have, forexample, a tunneling insulation layer 132, a charge storage layer 134,and a blocking insulation layer 136. The tunneling insulation layer 132may be formed, for example, to contact the channel regions 120. Thecharge storage layer 134 and the blocking insulation layer 136 may beformed, for example, sequentially on the tunneling insulation layer 132.

The tunneling insulation layer 132 may include, for example, one or moreof silicon oxide (SiO₂), silicon nitride (Si₃N₄), silicon oxide nitride(SiON), hafnium oxide (HfO₂), hafnium silicon oxide (HfSi_(x)O_(y)),aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), and zirconium oxide (ZrO₂).

The charge storage layer 134, for example, may be a floating gateincluding polysilicon. In addition, the charge storage layer 134 may bea charge trap layer including, for example, one or more of silicon oxide(SiO₂), silicon nitride (Si₃N₄), silicon oxide nitride (SiON), hafniumoxide (HfO₂), zirconium oxide (ZrO₂), tantalum oxide (Ta₂O₃), titaniumoxide (TiO₂), hafnium aluminum oxide (HfAl_(x)O_(y)), hafnium tantalumoxide (HfTa_(x)O_(y)), hafnium silicon oxide (HfSi_(x)O_(y)), aluminumnitride (Al_(x)NO, and aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN). In addition,the charge storage layer 134 may include, for example, quantum dots fortrapping charges.

The blocking insulation layer 136 may include, for example, one or moreof silicon oxide (SiO₂), silicon nitride (Si₃N₄), silicon oxide nitride(SiON), and a dielectric material having a high dielectric constant(high-k). The dielectric material having a high dielectric constant(high-k) may include, for example, at least one of aluminum oxide(Al₂O₃), tantalum oxide (Ta₂O₃), titanium oxide (TiO₂), yttrium oxide(Y₂O₃), zirconium oxide (ZrO₂), zirconium silicon oxide (ZrSi_(x)O_(y)),hafnium oxide (HfO₂), hafnium silicon oxide (HfSi_(x)O_(y)), lanthanumoxide (La₂O₃), lanthanum aluminum oxide (LaAl_(x)O_(y)), lanthanumhafnium oxide (LaHf_(x)O_(y)), hafnium aluminum oxide (HfAl_(x)O_(y)),and praseodymium oxide (Pr₂O₃).

For example, referring to FIG. 11, interlayer conductive layers 140 maybe formed on the storage structures 130 so as to fill the second openingportions 124 and the third opening portions 126. The interlayerconductive layers 140 may be formed by using, for example, a methodproviding high step coverage. For example, the interlayer conductivelayers 140 may be formed by using CVD, ALD, sputtering, electroplatingor non-electroplating. The interlayer conductive layers 140 may include,for example, one or more of polysilicon, aluminum (Al), gold (Au),beryllium (Be), bismuth (Bi), cobalt (Co), hafnium (Hf), indium (In),manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), palladium (Pd),platinum (Pt), rhodium (Rh), rhenium (Re), ruthenium (Ru), tantalum(Ta), tellurium (Te), titanium (Ti), tungsten (W), zinc (Zn), zirconium(Zr), a nitride thereof, and a silicide thereof. A reaction source forthe formation of the interlayer conductive layers 140 may be suppliedfrom, for example, an upper side of the second opening portions 124downward. Accordingly, to form the interlayer conductive layers 140without a void inside the third opening portions 126, the second openingportions 124 should not be blocked before the interlayer conductivelayers 140 fill the third opening portions 126.

For example, referring to FIG. 12, fourth opening portions 145 may beformed by removing some portions of the interlayer conductive layers140. The fourth opening portions 145 may be formed by using, forexample, a photolithography process and an etching process. The fourthopening portions 145 may expose sidewalls of the storage structures 130.In certain circumstances, the sidewalls of the storage structures 130may be further removed, and thus the fourth opening portions 145 mayexpose the sidewalls of the interlayer insulation layers 110. Here, thesides of the interlayer conductive layers 140 may be, for example,coplanar with sides of the storage structures 130. For example, theinterlayer conductive layers 140, which constitute control gateelectrodes of memory cells formed by a following process, may have auniform thickness from the storage structures 130.

Sidewalls of the fourth opening portions 145 may be perpendicular or maynot be perpendicular to the top side of the semiconductor layer 100. Forexample, widths of the fourth opening portions 145 may be smaller whencloser to the semiconductor layer 100. A remaining conductive layer 141may exist, for example, adjacent to the semiconductor layer 100. Theremaining conductive layer 141 may cover, for example, the top side ofthe semiconductor layer 100 and the sidewalls of the interlayerinsulation layers 110 located under the interlayer conductive layers 140remaining in the third opening portions 126. This remaining conductivelayer 141 should be removed for forming individual nodes. If the presentprocess is continued until the remaining conductive layer 141 isremoved, the sidewalls of the interlayer insulation layers 110 locatedabove the remaining conductive layer 141 may be recessed inward comparedto the sidewalls of the storage structures 130. In this case, theuniformity of the widths of the control gate electrodes of the memorycells to be formed may be deteriorated, and thus the reliability of thememory device may be deteriorated.

For example, referring to FIG. 13, a first sacrificial spacer 148 isformed in the fourth opening portions 145. The first sacrificial spacer148 may be formed, for example, so as to have low step coverage. Forexample, the first sacrificial spacer 148 may be formed in upper regionsof the fourth opening portions 145, and the sacrificial spacer 148 maynot be formed in lower regions of the fourth opening portions 145, suchas, in regions adjacent to the semiconductor layer 100. Thus, the firstsacrificial spacer 148 may cover sidewalls of portions of the interlayerconductive layers 140 and sidewalls of portions of the interlayerinsulation layers 110 located relatively far from the semiconductorlayer 100. In addition, the first sacrificial spacer 148 may not beformed on sidewalls of portions of the interlayer conductive layers 140and sidewalls of portions of the interlayer insulation layers 110located relatively close to the semiconductor layer 100. The portions ofthe interlayer conductive layers 140 that are not covered by the firstsacrificial spacer 148 may constitute the second control gate electrodes154 (see FIG. 3) of first and second ground selection transistors GSTaand GSTb (see FIG. 3) in a following process.

The first sacrificial spacer 148 may be formed, for example, so as notto cover the remaining conductive layer 141, and thus may function as amask for removing the remaining conductive layer 141 in a followingprocess. However, a second sacrificial spacer 148 a may be formed, forexample, on a portion of the remaining conductive layer 141 remaining onthe semiconductor layer 100. In addition, a process of forming the firstsacrificial spacer 148 should be controlled so that the fourth openingportions 145 are not closed by the first sacrificial spacer 148.

The first sacrificial spacer 148 may include, for example, a materialhaving an etch selectivity that is different from those of theinterlayer conductive layers 140 and the interlayer insulation layers110. In addition, the first sacrificial spacer 148 may include, forexample, a material having an etch selectivity that is different fromthat of the storage structures 130 and may also include a materialhaving an etch selectivity, for example, that is different from that ofthe blocking insulation layer 136. For example, if the interlayerinsulation layers 110 or the blocking insulation layer 136 includesilicon nitride, the first sacrificial spacer 148 may include siliconoxide. The first sacrificial spacer 148 may be formed of a single layeror a compound layer including a plurality of layers.

As stated above, the first sacrificial spacer 148 is formed to have, forexample, low step coverage. For this, for example, a processtemperature, a total pressure of a mixture of a reaction gas and acarrier gas, and a concentration of the reaction gas used to from thefirst sacrificial spacer 148 are properly controlled. For example, thefirst sacrificial spacer 148 may be formed to have low step coverage byincreasing a formation rate of the first sacrificial spacer 148. Theformation rate may be determined by a nucleation rate and a growth rateof the first sacrificial spacer 148. If the nucleation rate is higherthan the growth rate, the first sacrificial spacer 148 may be formeduniformly. On the other hand, if the growth rate is higher than thenucleation rate, the first sacrificial spacer 148 may not be formeduniformly. Thus, process conditions may be established in which thegrowth rate is higher than the nucleation rate, to form the firstsacrificial spacer 148 having low step coverage, and the processconditions for embodying this may be variously changed. For example,when the process temperature used to form the sacrificial spacer 148 israised, occurrence of a chemical reaction of the reaction gas used toform the sacrificial spacer 148 is increased, and thus the growth rateof the first sacrificial spacer 148 may be increased. On the other hand,in certain circumstances, when the process temperature is raised, amaterial constituting the first sacrificial spacer 148 may be changedfrom a gas state to a solid state, and thus the growth rate of the firstsacrificial spacer 148 may be increased. In addition, as the totalpressure of the mixture of the reaction gas and the carrier gas isincreased or the concentration of the reaction gas is increased, thegrowth rate of the first sacrificial spacer 148 may be increased. Inaddition, in certain circumstances, as the total pressure of the mixtureof the reaction gas and the carrier gas is decreased or theconcentration of the reaction gas is decreased, nucleation sites forforming the first sacrificial spacer 148 may be decreased, and thus thenucleation rate may be more decreased compared to the growth rate. As aresult, the growth rate of the first sacrificial spacer 148 may begreater than the nucleation rate, and thus the first sacrificial spacer148 having low step coverage may be formed.

As another example, after forming a layer filling the fourth openingportions 145, the first sacrificial spacer 148 may be formed by, forexample, removing a portion of the layer. In addition, after forming alayer covering the sidewalls of the interlayer insulation layers 110 andthe sidewalls of the interlayer conductive layers 140, the firstsacrificial spacer 148 may be formed by, for example, removing a portionof the layer so as to expose the interlayer insulation layers 110 andthe interlayer conductive layers 140 located relatively close to thesemiconductor layer 100.

Referring to FIG. 14, the remaining conductive layer 141 is removed byusing, for example, the first sacrificial spacer 148 as a mask. Here,the second sacrificial spacer 148 a located on the remaining conductivelayer 141 remaining on the semiconductor layer 100 may be removedpreviously or at the same time. In addition, the semiconductor layer 100may be exposed by removing the remaining conductive layer 141 remainingon the semiconductor layer 100. In addition, for example, the interlayerconductive layers 140 located relatively close to the semiconductorlayer 100 may be further removed, and thus a recess portion 143 recessedcompared to the sidewalls of the interlayer insulation layers 110 may beformed. Thus, the interlayer conductive layers 140 may include, forexample, a first interlayer conductive layer 142 that does not have therecess portion 143, and a second interlayer conductive layer 144 havingthe recess portion 143. For example, first interlayer conductive layer142 may have a first width W1, and the second interlayer conductivelayer 144 may have a second width W2. The second width W2 may be, forexample, narrower compared to the first width W1.

For example, referring to FIG. 15, an impurity region 102 may be formedby injecting impurities into the exposed semiconductor layer 100 throughthe fourth opening portions 145. The impurities may be, for example,N-type impurities such as phosphorus (P), arsenic (As), antimony, or thelike, or may be P-type impurities such as, for example, boron B,aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), zinc (Zn), or the like. The impurity region102 may be, for example, a source region and may form a PN junctiontogether with the semiconductor layer 100. In addition, for example,before performing the process of forming the interlayer insulationlayers 110 and the interlayer sacrificial layers 112 explained abovewith reference to FIG. 5, the impurity region 102 may be previouslyformed on the semiconductor layer (100).

Referring to FIG. 16, the sidewalls of the interlayer insulation layers110 and the interlayer conductive layers 140 are exposed by removing thefirst sacrificial spacer 148. Thus, the widths of the fourth openingportions 145 may be increased. As stated above, because the firstsacrificial spacer 148 has an etch selectivity different from those ofthe interlayer insulation layers 110 and the interlayer conductivelayers 140, removal of the interlayer insulation layers 110 and theinterlayer conductive layers 140 may be minimized while the firstsacrificial spacer 148 is removed.

For example, referring to FIG. 17, sidewall insulation layers 160 areformed in the fourth opening portions 145. That is, the sidewallinsulation layers 160 are formed on the sidewalls of the interlayerinsulation layers 110 and the sidewalls of the interlayer conductivelayers 140. In addition, fifth opening portions 146 exposing theimpurity region 102 are formed inside the sidewall insulation layers160. The sidewall insulation layers 160 may be formed by using, forexample, a method providing high step coverage. For example, thesidewall insulation layers 160 may be formed by using CVD, ALD,sputtering, electroplating or non-electroplating. As another example,after forming an insulation layer filling the fourth opening portions145, the sidewall insulation layer 160 including the fifth openingportions 146, which expose the impurity region 102 of the semiconductorlayer 100, may be formed by, for example removing a portion of theinsulation layer. The sidewall insulation layer 160 may have, forexample, a protrusion region 162 protruded toward the second interlayerconductive layer 144 located relatively close to the semiconductor layer100. The sidewall insulation layer 160 may have, for example, a firstthickness T1 on the sidewalls of the first interlayer conductive layer142 located relatively far from the semiconductor layer 100, and mayhave a second thickness T2 on the sidewalls of the second interlayerconductive layer 144 located relatively close to the semiconductor layer100. The second thickness T2 may be, for example, thicker compared tothe first thickness T1. A thickness of the sidewall insulation layer 160on the interlayer insulation layers 110 may be, for example, the same asthe first thickness T1. Subsequently, a conductive layer is filled inthe fifth opening portions 146, and thus the structure illustrated inFIG. 3 is formed. The conductive layer may become the common source line170 of FIG. 3. The first interlayer conductive layer 142 constitutes afirst control gate electrode 152 and a third control gate electrode 156,and the second interlayer conductive layer 144 constitutes a secondcontrol gate electrode 154.

FIGS. 18 through 22 are cross-sectional views illustrating non-volatilememory devices 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe inventive concept. The embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 18 through22 show cases where structures of gate electrodes and a sidewallinsulation layer are different from those of the gate electrodes and thesidewall insulation layer illustrated in FIG. 3. Thus, a description ofoperations or characteristics of elements that are the same as those ofFIG. 3 will not be provided here.

Referring to FIG. 18, the non-volatile memory device 2 is illustrated.The non-volatile memory device 2 includes, for example, first controlgate electrodes 152 having a first width W1. In addition, thenon-volatile memory device 2 may include, for example, second controlgate electrodes 254 having widths that are narrower compared to thefirst width W1 and that are different from each other. The secondcontrol gate electrodes 254 may include, for example, lower secondcontrol gate electrodes 254 a located relatively close to thesemiconductor layer 100 and upper second control gate electrodes 254 blocated relatively far from the semiconductor layer 100. For example,the lower second control gate electrodes 254 a may have a lower secondwidth W2 a, the upper second control gate electrodes 254 b may have anupper second width W2 b, and the lower second width W2 a may be narrowercompared to the upper second width W2 b. For example, a sidewallinsulation layer 260 may have a lower protrusion region 262 a adjacentto the lower second control gate electrodes 254 a, and may have an upperprotrusion region 262 b adjacent to the upper second control gateelectrodes 254 b, and the upper protrusion region 262 b may be narrowercompared to the lower protrusion region 262 a.

Referring to FIG. 19, the non-volatile memory device 3 is illustrated.The non-volatile memory device 3 may include, for example, first controlgate electrodes 152 having a first width W1 and second control gateelectrodes 354 having widths different from each other. For example, alower second width W2 a of lower second control gate electrodes 354 amay be narrower compared to an upper second width W2 b of upper secondcontrol gate electrodes 354 b, and the upper second width W2 b may bethe same as the first width W1. For example, a sidewall insulation layer360 may have a lower protrusion region 362 a adjacent to the lowersecond control gate electrodes 354 a, and may not have a protrusionregion adjacent to the upper second control gate electrodes 354 b. Thus,the upper second control gate electrodes 354 b may have the samestructure as that of the first control gate electrodes 152.

Referring to FIG. 20, the non-volatile memory device 4 is illustrated.The non-volatile memory device 4 includes, for example, first controlgate electrodes 152 having a first width W1. In addition, thenon-volatile memory device 4 may include, for example, second controlgate electrodes 454 having widths that are narrower compared to thefirst width W1 and that are different from each other. For example, alower second width W2 a of lower second control gate electrodes 454 amay be wider compared to an upper second width W2 b of upper secondcontrol gate electrodes 454 b. For example, a sidewall insulation layer460 may have a lower protrusion region 462 a adjacent to the lowersecond control gate electrodes 454 a, and may have an upper protrusionregion 462 b adjacent to the upper second control gate electrodes 454 b.The upper protrusion region 462 b may be thicker compared to the lowerprotrusion region 462 a.

Referring to FIG. 21, the non-volatile memory device 5 is illustrated.The non-volatile memory device 5 may include, for example, first controlgate electrodes 152 having a first width W1 and second control gateelectrodes 554 having widths different from each other. A lower secondwidth W2 a of lower second control gate electrodes 554 a may be, forexample, wider compared to an upper second width W2 b of upper secondcontrol gate electrodes 554 b, and the lower second width W2 a may be,for example, the same as the first width W1. For example, a sidewallinsulation layer 560 may have an upper protrusion region 562 b adjacentto the upper second control gate electrodes 554 b, and may not have aprotrusion region adjacent to the lower second control gate electrodes554 a. Thus, the lower second control gate electrodes 554 a may have thesame structure as that of the first control gate electrodes 152.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 22 is a case where one of the changesto a structure of ground selection transistors already described aboveis applied to a structure of string selection transistors. Referring toFIG. 22, the non-volatile memory device 6 is illustrated. For example,the non-volatile memory device 6 may include first control gateelectrodes 152 having a first width W1 and second control gateelectrodes 654 having a second width W2 equal to the first width W1. Inaddition, for example, the non-volatile memory device 6 may includethird control gate electrodes 656 having a third width W3 that isnarrower compared to the first width W1, between a sidewall insulationlayer 660 and a channel region 120. The third control gate electrodes656 may be located far from the semiconductor layer 100 compared to thefirst control gate electrodes 152. Technical characteristics of thedevices explained with reference to FIGS. 18 through 21 may be combinedwith the present embodiment of FIG. 22. For example, various changes tothe second width W2 of the second gate electrodes 654 may instead beapplied to the third width W3 of the third control gate electrodes 656.In addition, the second width W2 of the second gate electrodes 654 andthe third width W3 of the third control gate electrodes 656 may bechanged together. In addition, the sidewall insulation layers 660 mayhave one or more protrusion regions 662 protruded toward the thirdcontrol gate electrodes 656 in a region in which the third control gateelectrodes 656 are located.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a non-volatile memorydevice 7 according to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept.The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 23 is a case where a structure of astorage structure is different from that of the storage structure 130illustrated in FIG. 3. Thus, a description of the operations orcharacteristics of elements that are the same as those of FIG. 3 willnot be provided here.

Referring to FIG. 23, the non-volatile memory device 7 is illustrated.The non-volatile memory device 7 includes, for example, a storagestructure 730 extending continuously along channel regions 120. Forexample, a tunneling insulation layer 732, a charge storage layer 734,and a blocking insulation layer 736 that constitute the storagestructure 730 extend continuously along the channel regions 120.Accordingly, the storage structure 730 may have, for example, a straightline shape. First and second control gate electrodes 152 and 154 of FIG.23 are similar to the first and second control gate electrodes 152 and154 of FIG. 3. For example, the first control gate electrodes 152 mayhave a first width W1 between a sidewall insulation layer 160 and thechannel regions 120, and the second control gate electrodes 154 may havea second width W2 that is narrower compared to the first width W1,between the sidewall insulation layer 160 and the channel regions 120.In the current embodiment, the third control gate electrodes 156 mayhave, for example, a third width W3 between the sidewall insulationlayer 160 and the channel region 120, and the third width W3 may be thesame as the first width W1. In addition, technical characteristics ofthe devices explained with reference to FIGS. 18 through 22 may becombined with the present embodiment of FIG. 23.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a non-volatile memorydevice 8 according to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept.The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 24 is a case where a structure of acommon source line is different from that of the common source line 170illustrated in FIG. 3. Thus, a description of operations orcharacteristics of elements that are the same as those of FIG. 3 willnot be provided here.

Referring to FIG. 24, the non-volatile memory device 8 is illustrated.The non-volatile memory device 8 includes, for example, a common sourceline 870 located on a semiconductor layer 100. The common source line870 may be, for example, a common source region and may correspond tothe impurity region 102 of FIG. 3. That is, instead of the common sourceline 170 of FIG. 3 extending in a vertical direction, the common sourceline 870 extends, for example, in a horizontal direction on thesemiconductor layer 100. Accordingly, a sidewall insulation layer 860does not include a common source line therein, and fills spaces betweenfirst through the third control gate electrodes 152, 154, and 156. Thefirst and second control gate electrodes 152 and 154 of FIG. 24 aresimilar to the first and second control gate electrodes 152 and 154 ofFIG. 3. For example, the first control gate electrodes 152 may have afirst width W1 between the sidewall insulation layer 860 and channelregions 120, and the second control gate electrodes 154 may have asecond width W2 that is narrower compared to the first width W1, betweenthe sidewall insulation layer 860 and the channel regions 120. In thecurrent embodiment, the third control gate electrodes 156 may have, forexample, a third width W3 between the sidewall insulation layer 860 andthe channel region 120, and the third width W3 may be the same as thefirst width W1. Also, the sidewall insulation layer 860 may have, forexample, one or more protrusion regions 162 protruded toward the secondcontrol gate electrodes 154 in a region where the second control gateelectrodes 154 are located. In addition, technical characteristics ofthe devices explained with reference to FIGS. 18 through 23 may becombined with the present embodiment of FIG. 24.

FIG. 25 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a non-volatile memorydevice 1000 having a vertical structure according to an exemplaryembodiment of the inventive concept.

Referring to FIG. 25, a NAND cell array 1100 may be combined with a corecircuit unit 1200. For example, the NAND cell array 1100 may include anon-volatile memory cells having a vertical structure. The core circuitunit 1200 may include, for example, a control logic unit 1210, a rowdecoder 1220, a column decoder 1230, a sense amplifier 1240, and a pagebuffer 1250.

The control logic unit 1210 may communicate with the row decoder 1220,the column decoder 1230, and the page buffer 1250. The row decoder 1220may communicate with the NAND cell array 1100 having a stackedstructure, through, for example, string selection lines SSL, word linesWL, and ground selection lines GSL. The column decoder 1230 maycommunicate with the NAND cell array 1100 through, for example, bitlines BL. For example, the sense amplifier 1240 may be connected to thecolumn decoder 1230 when a signal is output from the NAND cell array1100, and may not be connected to the column decoder 1230 when a signalis transmitted to the NAND cell array 1100.

For example, the control logic unit 1210 may transmit a row addresssignal to the row decoder 1220, and the row decoder 1220 may decode therow address signal and then transmit a decoded row address signal to theNAND cell array 1100 through the string selection lines SSL, the wordlines WL, and the ground selection lines GSL. The control logic unit1210 may transmit, for example, a column address signal to the columndecoder 1230 or the page buffer 1250, and the column decoder 1230 maydecode the column address signal and then transmit, for example, adecoded column address signal to the NAND cell array 1100 through thebit lines BL. An output signal of the NAND cell array 1100 may betransmitted to, for example, the sense amplifier 1240 through the columndecoder 1230, and may be amplified, for example, in the sense amplifier1240. An amplified output signal may be transmitted to, for example, thecontrol logic unit 1210 through the page buffer 1250.

FIG. 26 is a schematic view illustrating a memory card 5000 according toan exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept.

For example, referring to FIG. 26, a controller 5100 and a memory 5200are disposed to send/receive electric signals to/from each other. Forexample, when the controller 5100 gives a command to the memory 5200,the memory 5200 may send data. The memory 5200 may include anon-volatile memory device according to an exemplary embodiment of theinventive concept. The non-volatile memory devices according toexemplary embodiments of the inventive concept may be disposed in, forexample, NAND or NOR architecture arrays in correspondence to a logicgate design. Such NAND and NOR arrays are generally known in the art.The memory arrays may be disposed in a plurality of rows and columns andmay have one or more memory array banks (not shown). The memory 5200 mayinclude the memory arrays (not shown) or the memory array banks (notshown), all of which are known in the art. The memory card 5000 mayfurther include conventional members, such as, for example, a rowdecoder (not shown), a column decoder (not shown), input/output (I/O)buffers (now shown), and/or a control resistor (not shown), to drive thememory array banks (not shown), all of which are known in the art. Thememory card 5000 may be used in memory devices as a memory card, suchas, for example, a memory stick card, a smart media (SM) card, a securedigital (SD) card, a mini SD card, or a multi media card (MMC).

FIG. 27 is a schematic block diagram of a system 6000 including anon-volatile memory device according to an exemplary embodiment of theinventive concept.

For example, referring to FIG. 27, the system 6000 may include acontroller 6100, an input/output device 6200, a memory 6300, and aninterface 6400. The system 6000 may be a mobile system or a system thattransmits or receives data. The mobile system may be, for example, apersonal digital assistant (PDA), a portable computer, a web tablet, awireless phone, a mobile phone, a digital music player, or a memorycard. The controller 6100 executes a software program and controls thesystem 6000. The controller 6100 may be, for example, a microprocessor,a digital signal processor, a microcontroller, or the like. Theinput/output device 6300 may be used to input or output data of thesystem 6000. The system 6000 is connected to an external apparatus, suchas for example, a personal computer or a network, using the input/outputdevice 6200, to send/receive data to/from the external apparatus. Theinput/output device 6200 may be, for example, a keypad, a keyboard, or adisplay. The memory 6300 may store codes and/or data for operating thecontroller 6100 and/or may store data processed by the controller 6100.The memory 6300 may include a non-volatile memory device according to anexemplary embodiment of the inventive concept. The interface 6400 may bea data transmission path between the system 6000 and an externalapparatus. The controller 6100, the input/output device 6200, the memory6300, and the interface 6400 may communicate with one another by, forexample, a bus 6500. For example, the system 6000 may be used for amobile phone, an MP3 player, a navigation system, a portable multimediaplayer (PMP), a solid state disk (SSD), or a household appliance.

Having described exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept, it isfurther noted that it is readily apparent to those of reasonable skillin the art that various modifications may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention which is defined by the metes andbounds of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A non-volatile memory device having a verticalstructure, the non-volatile memory device comprising: a semiconductorlayer; and a plurality of control gate electrodes on the semiconductorlayer, the plurality of control gate electrode including a first controlgate electrode having a first distance from the semiconductor layer anda second control gate electrode having a second distance different fromthe first distance from the semiconductor layer, wherein width of thesecond control gate electrode is narrower than width of the firstcontrol gate electrode.
 2. The non-volatile memory device of claim 1,wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.
 3. Thenon-volatile memory device of claim 1, further comprising a sidewallinsulation layer extended in a vertical direction on the semiconductorlayer, and having a protrusion region.
 4. The non-volatile memory deviceof claim 3, wherein the of second control gate electrode contacts theprotrusion region of the sidewall insulation layer
 5. The non-volatilememory device of claim 3, further comprising a common source linedisposed in the vertical direction on a portion of the semiconductorlayer and contacting the sidewall insulation layer.
 6. The non-volatilememory device of claim 3, further comprising a channel region extendedin a vertical direction on the semiconductor layer.
 7. The non-volatilememory device of claim 6, further comprising a storage structureinterposed between the channel region and the control gate electrodes,wherein the storage structure continuously extends along the controlgate electrodes.
 8. The non-volatile memory device of claim 6, furthercomprising a storage structure interposed between the channel region andthe control gate electrodes, wherein the storage structure continuouslyextends along the channel region.
 9. The non-volatile memory device ofclaim 6, further comprising a common source line disposed in ahorizontal direction on the semiconductor layer and underneath theplurality of control gate electrodes.
 10. The non-volatile memory deviceof claim 9, wherein the channel region extends into a recessed portionof the common source line.
 11. A non-volatile memory device having avertical structure, the non-volatile memory device comprising: asemiconductor layer; a plurality of control gate electrodes arranged inthe vertical direction on the semiconductor layer, the plurality ofcontrol gate electrodes including a plurality of first controlelectrodes and a plurality of second control gate electrodes, whereinwidths of the second control gate electrodes are narrower than widths ofthe first control gate electrodes.
 12. The non-volatile memory device ofclaim 11, wherein the second control gate electrodes are locatedrelatively close to the semiconductor layer, compared to the firstcontrol gate electrodes.
 13. The non-volatile memory device of claim 11,wherein widths of the second control gate electrodes are the same aseach other.
 14. The non-volatile memory device of claim 11, whereinwidths of the second control gate electrodes are different from eachother.
 15. The non-volatile memory device of claim 11, wherein a widthof at least one second control gate electrode located relatively closeto the semiconductor layer is narrower than a width of at least onesecond control gate electrode located relatively far from thesemiconductor layer.
 16. The non-volatile memory device of claim 11,wherein a width of at least one second control gate electrode locatedrelatively close to the semiconductor layer is wider than a width of atleast one second control gate electrode located relatively far from thesemiconductor layer.
 17. The non-volatile memory device of claim 11,wherein the second control gate electrodes constitute selectiontransistors.
 18. The non-volatile memory device of claim 11, wherein thefirst control gate electrodes constitute memory cells.
 19. Anon-volatile memory device having a vertical structure, the non-volatilememory device comprising: a substrate; a plurality of control gateelectrodes arranged in the vertical direction on the substrate, theplurality of control gate electrodes including at least one firstcontrol electrode located relatively far from the substrate and at leastone second control gate electrode located relatively close to thesubstrate, wherein width of the at least one second control gateelectrode are narrower than width of the at least on first control gateelectrode.
 20. The non-volatile memory device of claim 19, wherein theat least one second control gate electrodes constitute selectiontransistor.